2016 Western New York Flash Media Guide
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1 About Team Records . 55 Schedule . 3 Individual Records . 56 Flash History . 4 Media Sahlen Sports Park . 6 Broadcasting Information .. 57 Sahlen Stadium . 7 Flash Media Contacts . 58 Ticket Information . 8 League Team NWSL Directory . 60 Front Office Directory . 9 NWSL Media Contacts . .. 61 Coaching Staff . 10 NWSL Media Policy . 62 Medical Staff . .. 13 NWSL Roster Rules . 65 Roster . 15 NWSL Competition Rules and Regulations . 76 Player Bios . 17 NWSL Schedule . 22 Statistics Year-By-Year Results . 37 Head-to-Head Results . 39 Overall Team Statistics . 47 Category Leaders . 51 2 ABOUT | 2016 WNY FLASH SCHEDULE SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY APRIL 16 | 8:30PM JUNE 11 | 7:00PM JULY 30 | 8:30PM CHILDREN’S MERCY PARK SAHLEN’S STADIUM BBVA COMPASS STADIUM SATURDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY APRIL 23 | 7:00PM JUNE 17 | 7:00PM AUG 27 | 7:00PM TOYOTA PARK SAHLEN’S STADIUM SAHLEN’S STADIUM FRIDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY APRIL 29 | 7:00PM JUNE 24 | 7:00PM SEP 3 | 7:00PM SAHLEN’S STADIUM SAHLEN’S STADIUM MARYLAND SOCCERPLEX SATURDAY FRIDAY THURSDAY MAY 7 | 7:00PM JULY 1 | 7:00PM SEP 8 | 8:00PM YURCAK FIELD SAHLEN’S STADIUM JORDAN FIELD SATURDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MAY 14 | 7:30PM JULY 9 | 7:00PM SEP 11 | 9:30PM ORLANDO CITRUS BOWL SAHLEN’S STADIUM PROVIDENCE PARK FRIDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY MAY 21 | 7:00PM JULY 16 | 10:00PM SEP 24 | 7:00PM SAHLEN’S STADIUM MEMORIAL STADIUM JORDAN FIELD FRIDAY SATURDAY HOME MAY 27 | 7:00PM JULY 23 | 7:00PM AWAY JORDAN FIELD SAHLEN’S STADIUM ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN 3 ABOUT | WNY FLASH HISTORY 2008 Joe Sahlen, owner of Sahlen Packing Co ., founded the Flash in 2008 - then known as the Buffalo Flash . 2009 The Buffalo Flash made its first competitive appearance in 2009 as a member of the W-League . 2010 In just its second season, the Flash became W-League Champions, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 at Harry Welch Stadium in Santa Clarita, California . With the team’s stellar season, head coach Aaran Lines was named FieldTurf Coach of the Year . 2011 After its first title a year before, the Flash joined Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) as an expansion team . With the league change, the team became the Western New York Flash and moved its home pitch to Rochester, NY at the newly named Sahlen’s Stadium . With its first pick in the 2011 WPS Draft, the Flash selected Alex Morgan and later signed 2010 WPS MVP and WPS Golden Boot winner Marta and Canadian star Christine Sinclair . After finishing the year 13-2-3, the Flash won the regular season title and hosted the 2011 WPS Championship . The Flash became back-to-back champions in that game, defeating the Philadelphia Indepen- dence in penalty kicks in front of a WPS record 10,461 fans . Marta won the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer, while Ashlyn Harris was named US Coast Guard Goalkeeper of the Year and Whitney Engen was honored as the WPS Defender of the Year . Lines earned his second-consecutive FieldTurf Coach of the Year honor and the 2011 Flash squad was named FieldTurf WPS Team of the Year . 2012 After the WPS suspended operations, the Flash joined the WPSL-Elite in 2012 and continued its winning ways . The team won its third league title (all in different leagues) with another penalty kick decision . After finishing the regular season 9-3-2, the Flash earned the second seed in the WPSL-E playoffs and went on to defeat the New York Fury 1-1 (4-2 PKs) . In November of 2012, the Western New York Flash was selected as one of eight clubs for the then-unnamed women’s professional soccer league . That league would become the National Women’s Soccer League, otherwise known as the NWSL . 4 ABOUT | WNY FLASH HISTORY 2013 In the team’s first season in the NWSL, the Flash claimed the Regular Season Championship and landed the Number 1 seed head- ing into the playoffs . After beating No . 4 Sky Blue FC 2-0 in the semifinals, the Flash hosted No . 3 Portland Thorns FC at Sahlen’s Stadium for the league title on August 31, 2013 . In that game, in front of a season-high 9,129 fans, the Flash finished as runner-up after falling 2-0 to the Thorns . The Flash, who did not reach the top of the table until the final day of the regular season, were undefeated at home for 11-straight games . The club was only defeated in its home opener on April 27 and did not fall again until the NWSL Championship on August 31 . As a club, the Flash set numerous league records, ranking atop the NWSL in goals scored (36), goals conceded (30) and goals against average ( .909) . Forward Abby Wambach and defender Brittany Taylor were honored on the NWSL Best XI, while goalkeeper Adrianna Franch earned Second XI commendations . 2014 In its second season in the NWSL, the Flash failed to reach the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history . Despite a sev- enth place finish, the team had many high points, including a 5-0 shutout of Portland Thorns FC on June 7 . At the time, it was the largest margin of defeat in NWSL history and also set the league record for largest win margin by a road team . Midfielder Carli Lloyd was named to the Second XI after posting eight goals and five assists . 2015 The Flash went 6-9-5 in its third NWSL season finishing in seventh . Midfielder Sam Mewis was nominated for the 2015 NWSL Rookie of the Year award after tallying 4 goals and 4 assists for the club . 5 ABOUT | TRAINING INFORMATION SAHLEN SPORTS PARK Sahlen Sports Park, located in Elma, NY, just 15 minutes outside of Buffalo, is the official training home of the 2013 NWSL Shield-winning WNY Flash . Purchased by Joe Sahlen in 1999, the Sports Park is a 200,000 sq . ft . multi-sport indoor facility with three open fields including a full regulation-size soccer field, one boarded field, the STA Sports Performance Training fitness center, pro shop, and café . Recreational and advanced programs, as well as leagues, are offered for kids and adults in soccer, lacrosse, flag football, baseball, softball, and field hockey . SSP sees more than 500,000 visitors each year and is also home to the Western New York Flash Academy . Over 4,100 players are registered annually (Sept .-Apr .) to participate in SSP’s youth soccer leagues and programs, only a fraction of the 17,000 youth sports participants who play at Sahlen Sports Park each year . For more information, visit www .sahlensportspark .com DIRECTIONS TO SAHLEN SPORTS PARK From Rochester/Syracuse/Albany: From Western Pennsylvania/Ohio: From Canada: Take I-90 W to Exit 54 to merge onto NY-400 S Take I-90 E towards Buffalo . After crossing into the US, take I-190 S . toward East Aurora . Take Exit 54 to merge onto NY-400 S Merge onto I-90 W . Exit at Jamison Rd - Elma . toward East Aurora . Take Exit 54 to merge onto NY-400 S Turn right on Jamison Rd . Exit at Jamison Rd - Elma . toward East Aurora . Turn left on Seneca St . Turn right on Jamison Rd . Exit at Jamison Rd - Elma . Take the first right into SSP complex . Turn left on Seneca St . Turn right on Jamison Rd . Take the first right into SSP complex . Turn left on Seneca St . Take the first right into SSP complex . 6 ABOUT | STADIUM INFORMATION ABOUT SAHLEN’S STADIUM The Flash will play all 2015 home games at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, NY . Formerly known as PAETEC Park and Marina Auto Stadium, Sahlen Packing Company claimed the naming rights in 2011 and the Rochester-owned stadium officially became known as Sahlen’s Stadium . It has been home to the Western New York Flash since 2011 . The, primarily, soccer stadium is also home to the USL Pro team, the Rochester Rhinos . The stadium also hosts a number of other sporting events, such as collegiate soccer, Rochester Rhinos Elite youth soccer games, football, kickball, and field hockey . Additionally, it has been used for drum and bugle corps competitions and concerts . The stadium’s construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2006 . It was funded jointly by the state of New York, the city of Rochester, and the Rochester From the East Rhinos . It features a synthetic grass turf field and has a capacity of 13,768 seats . Take I-90 WEST toward Buffalo It has five permanent concession stands, featuring Sahlen’s products, such as Take exit #45 onto I-490 WEST toward Rochester their hot dogs . There are also a number of outside vendors that have mobile Take exit #14 toward Plymouth Ave/Broad St kiosks set up around the park . The stadium is wheelchair friendly, and smoke- Turn left on West Broad St [RT-31] free within the seating bowl . Bear right to follow RT-31 Turn right on Smith St . The stadium’s highest attendance record of 15,404, was set on July 20, 2011 Arrive at Sahlen Stadium during a match between the WNY Flash and the magicJack . The above seating capacity number was allowed due to additional bleacher seats being added and standing room only tickets sold to accommodate the high demand . The game From the West Take I-90 EAST toward Rochester featured international superstar and Rochester native Abby Wambach of the Take exit #47 onto I-490 EAST toward Rochester/Leroy magicJack, as well as other national team players coming home from the United Take exit #12/Brown St onto Allen St toward Broad St .